tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post3678905169581866942..comments2023-06-21T02:30:06.647-07:00Comments on Project: The King and I: The Pentateuch: A Strange and Fascinating LibraryBrucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08310824690509335801noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post-10579639417116186322011-03-08T08:41:40.772-08:002011-03-08T08:41:40.772-08:00I just started a book on Israelite polytheism and ...I just started a book on Israelite polytheism and the Ugaritic texts. Crazy interesting so far.Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03750772498972381178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post-38870256804292363562011-03-07T15:34:27.831-08:002011-03-07T15:34:27.831-08:00@ebullient: Thanks, fixed.
@Abbie: The three tex...@ebullient: Thanks, fixed.<br /><br />@Abbie: The three texts I mentioned are primordial-type mythologies, so their influence is really limited to the opening third of Gen. However, the rest of the OT content of other genres (including theological history, wisdom literature and prophets) has very striking and unmistakable parallels and common influences with other texts of contemporary and precedent neighbors, such as the Ugaritic texts. It makes you wonder: how vast and enlightening a library of ancient literature would we have from this region if every culture's texts were preserved to the extent of Israel's?! Damn you, eroding hand of time!BHitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14221255508123909911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post-39342503680906603192011-03-07T08:55:19.704-08:002011-03-07T08:55:19.704-08:00Fantastic! Thanks, Brian!Fantastic! Thanks, Brian!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05908732005042954139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post-89010059633045689662011-03-06T09:31:53.857-08:002011-03-06T09:31:53.857-08:00I agree with David, nice recap. It's also nice...I agree with David, nice recap. It's also nice to have another voice on the blog, I'm glad Bruce is allowing you to guest post. I enjoyed reading your personal history with religion in the previous post - deconversion stories fascinate me, the way the process and end results are different for everyone.<br /><br />I did notice a mistake that could be confusing for anyone who is using this to catch up. In your sentence: "The novella about Joseph that ends Exodus [*should be Genesis] functions to move the action to Egypt, where Exodus will begin."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post-57001534858838081062011-03-06T09:31:39.208-08:002011-03-06T09:31:39.208-08:00That was fantastic!
Are the major babylonian infl...That was fantastic!<br /><br />Are the major babylonian influences limited to the first third of Genesis? That section always struck me as inherently different from the rest of the Torah- but its novelty isn't obvious, since it has the most famous, familiar stories in the entire Hebrew Bible.Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03750772498972381178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post-89463691269555951672011-03-06T09:09:18.877-08:002011-03-06T09:09:18.877-08:00Darn, Brian, you took the words right outta my mou...Darn, Brian, you took the words right outta my mouth!<br />;-D<br /><br />I want to thank @Bruce, @BHitt, @Abbie and all the other believers and non-believers that have made this so enjoyable so far. I have to fess up - in the many times (well ... 3 or 4) that I've attempted and end-to-end reading of the OT, I usually stalled before completing Deuteronomy. I, like some of the non-believers here, was once a believer, but a careful reading of the Pentateuch was the downfall of that belief.<br /><br />I will certainly circle back at look into the Documentary Hypothesis, The Matthew Henry commentaries, John Calvin, et al, as soon as the year is over - but it's fun for me to approach this with only my faded recollections to color this current reading. Oh - and I really want to looking into the Canaanite pantheon and other mythologies that @BHitt and others have mentioned along the way.<br /><br />My favorite line so far is from Deut 28:35 "The LORD shall smite thee in the knees...". If that doesn't put the fear of god into you, then nothing will!Skepticalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11491725012753678802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4648300866401965494.post-90960572571333557732011-03-06T09:01:44.792-08:002011-03-06T09:01:44.792-08:00Nice recap Brian! Thanks!Nice recap Brian! Thanks!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01181354327293762376noreply@blogger.com